Primary Years Programme (PYP)

International Baccalaureate (IB)

"To develop into lifelong learners we need to encourage our children to start with an open mind."

- Lee Brown (PYP Principal)

The PYP programme encompasses an exciting and relevant approach to education because it first and foremost focuses on the child, the student.At ISGR we believe that the child is at the centre of the learning process. They are constantly building upon what they already know and adding to their knowledge, skills and understanding as they navigate and develop their learning through asking questions, taking risks, collaborating, finding out, reflecting and making connections. These are skills that are vital in the 21st century world in which we live and in which our children are growing up in.Our aim is to support each and every child on their own individual path of learning, in the way that is right for them.Our aim is to be an inclusive community of reflective lifelong learners. Welcome to our school!

Students in the 21st century are faced with the challenge of learning about an interconnected world where knowledge is constantly developing. The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme prepares students to be active participants in a lifelong journey of learning. This is done through implementing the programme through the five essential elements: knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and action.

The PYP focus is on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. Around the PYP framework we have developed a detailed programme reflecting the multinational composition of our school population. The subject areas of maths, language, science, social studies, information technology, the arts, social, emotional physical education and library are taught through units of inquiry under six transdisciplinary themes within the School's Programme of Inquiry in order to help students make connections between subjects, thereby facilitating authentic learning experiences.

PYP uses powerful strategies of inquiry to build students’ knowledge and to deeply study particular topics in the units of inquiry. Students and teachers work toward answering a few broad questions using many resources and a combination of subject areas. Students practice reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and other skills in the process. This adds relevance to the learning experience and a sense of process, rather than a seemingly unrelated collection of facts and skills.

The aim of the PYP Programme is to develop internationally minded people and as learner’s we strive to be INQUIRERS, KNOWLEDGEABLE, THINKERS, COMMUNICATORS, PRINCIPLED, OPEN-MINDED, CARING, COURAGEOUS, BALANCED, and REFLECTIVE. These attributes make up the learner profile, an important aspect of the programme.

Personal & Social Education

At ISGR we use the Responsive Classroom approach to teach the key social and emotional competencies—cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self control. Through activities like morning meeting, creating classroom rules, following logical consequences and interactive modeling, students are part of a classroom community in which they are active members. We believe that the importance of developing students’ sense of belonging, significance, and emotional safety allows students to feel comfortable taking risks and working collaboratively.

The six principles that guide this approach are:

Teaching social and emotional skills is as important as teaching academic content.

How we teach is as important as what we teach.

Great cognitive growth occurs through social interaction.

What we know and believe about our students—individually, culturally, developmentally—informs our expectations, reactions, and attitudes about those students.

How we work together as adults to create a safe, joyful, and inclusive school environment is as important as our individual contribution or competence.

Partnering with families—knowing them and valuing their contributions—is as important as knowing the children we teach.

At ISGR students in their final year of the PYP (Grade 5), participate in a culminating project, the Grade 5 PYP Exhibition. It is not only a celebration as students move from the Primary Years Programme into the Middle Years Programme, but it is also a final assessment where each student is required to demonstrate engagement with the essential elements of the PYP: knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and action. Students engage in a collaborative, transdisciplinary inquiry that involves them in identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues. Each group of students will be paired with two teacher guides who will help them through the process during Exhibition. Parents and students from ISGR are invited to attend the Grade 5 Exhibition Evening. We encourage at least one parent or guardian to attend the Exhibition along with their child.

Library

Our school library is the hub of learning. It is a place where students inquire, explore, and consolidate. Students read, share and wonder. Our spacious and light library can be calm with focus, or buzzing with learning. Teaching staff use the library as a meeting place during professional development days. Our library’s form and function is very diverse! The library is the centre of all activities during our annual Reading Festival. During Culture/International Week and Community Week, we organize after-school activities in the library. These will be announced via ManageBac and SchoolSoft. We are also actively involved with the Creative School Project, with the creative learning experiences happening mostly during Culture Week and Reading Festival.

Students from both the PYP and LGRP sections have weekly library lessons, in which students are exposed to, think about and discuss many different ideas and concepts related to developing yourself as an independent, responsible and reflective reader and life-long learner.

The foundation for the library curriculum are the IB key concepts, as well as the IB Learner Profiles and Attitudes. During the library lessons, students also check out one or two books. Every week students are expected to return their library books during their library lesson. If they are not finished reading their books, they can renew the loan.

The library is organized in a way so students feel encouraged to be independent and responsible library users. Students find and check out their own books and the full-time library teacher and the part-time librarian are there to support them. Students and parents are welcome to read and study in the library after school. The library is open from 14.30 until 16.00 every day, except for Friday when we close at 15.00.

Library Club

On Mondays, from 14.40 - 15.40, Library Club members meet. Together, we decide on what we want to learn or do. We have created stories, acted in a play, written poems, but learning new board games has been our favourite activity! All students are welcome to join our Library Club.

Mother Tongue Language

Research indicates that students benefit academically, socially and emotionally when they are encouraged to develop and maintain proficiency in their first language while they are learning English. Language skills and conceptual understanding are readily transferable from one language to another. The first language provides a foundation for developing proficiency in additional languages, serves as a basis for emotional development, and provides a vital link with the student's family and cultural background.

A strong foundation in the first language can also help students to:

Readily reintegrate into their home country;Develop flexibility;Develop problem-solving skills; Make connections between previous learning and new learning; Communicate fully with family members; Experience a sense of cultural stability and continuity; Understand cultural and family values; Develop awareness of global issues; Expand their career opportunities.

Our Mother Tongue Coordinator, Jessika Lägerlof (Jessika.Lagerlof@isgr.se ), assists members of our community who actively speak their mother tongue language at home with setting up mother tongue language classes after school. These classes are provided and organized by the Swedish local education authority Göteborg Stad.

IB website

Visit the IB website for more information about the primary years program.

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